This tool reports damage to New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES). Reporting will help Lewis County qualify for an official assessment. 

• If you experienced damage to your home or business due to flooding on July 10th and/or subsequent severe weather, please fill out this online survey and report it. This will help the State and County to collect damages in support of our requests to federal assistance programs. This is not an application for assistance.

The NYS Office of Emergency Management has provided the Department of Financial Services hotline that will be available daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM to answer any questions about insurance needs in our community. Please call 1-800-339-1759 with your questions 

Available Grant: Flood Repair Program, as Administered by Snow Belt Housing Company, INC.

• Governor Kathy Hochul has authorized $5 Million To Support Low- and-Moderate-Income Homeowners in Chautauqua, Erie, Essex, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, and Warren Counties.
• Homeowners could be eligible for up to $50,000.00 for reimbursement costs and/or pending repairs related to storm damage. Income must be at or below 150% of the Lewis County average median household income.
• Income guidelines for July 10 and 17, 2024:
  • 1 person household: $87,750
  • 2-person household: $100,200
  • 3-person household: $112,800
  • 4-person household: $125,250
  • 5-person household: $135,300
  • 6-person household: $145,350
  • 7-person household: $155,400
  • 8-person household: $165,450

Please complete BOTH of the following surveys to receive the most up-to-date information on this program: 

• Snow Belt Housing Company, INC. Damage Survey  

• New York State Homes and Community Renewal Homeowner Storm Repair Grant Survey 

Snow Belt will be applying to other grant programs for funding that does not restrict eligibility based on income and that may also be able to address damages that are not covered under the State program.

Contact Snowbelt Housing For more information at (315) 376-2639 or information@snowbelt.org  

**Temporary housing (short term rental) assistance available to those who are unable to return to their homes due to safety factors.**

Lewis County Department of Social Services can assist with health and safety items such as replacing furnaces and hot water heaters damaged or lost in the recent flooding for individuals who meet income guidelines.

• • Emergency Assistance to Families  
  • Emergency Safety Net Assistance 

For more information or income guidelines, please visit: DSS Assistance Flyer.pdf

For questions or assistance applying for this program, contact DSS at (315) 376-5400 

In order to be eligible for funding, businesses must complete these two surveys:  

1. Naturally Lewis Pre-Qualification Assessment Form 
2. Lewis County Damages Reporting Form  

Once these steps have been completed, Naturally Lewis Staff will contact business and building owners with program information and applications that suit your specific situation.  

Businesses may be eligible to access the following resources:  

1. (Grant) Naturally Lewis Reboot Our Business Community Fund –100% of funds submitted through this portal will go directly to Lewis County businesses impacted by flooding. As of August 8, 2024, $23,444.67 available.  
2. (Loan) Lewis County Development Corporation Emergency Loan Fund, established via the Community Economic Development Program Fund, in partnership with Number 3 Wind and a donation from Community Bank of $25,000: A total of $200,000 available.   
3. (Grant) Lewis County Vacant Property Revitalization Program, established in partnership with Lewis County, has allocated $250,000 toward preventing vacancies in buildings impacted by severe weather. This grant program will provide grants of $50,000-$100,000 with an equal match. 

Contact Cheyenne Steria at cheyenne@naturallylewis.com or call (315) 376-3014 with any questions. 

Available Grant: Village of Lowville Downtown Revitalization Initiative  

• $10 million in project funds for downtown revitalization projects. In response to recent flooding, the Village of Lowville has extended the call for projects and will now accept project applications through August 30th, 2024.  

• Projects should be $75,000 or greater, but some exceptions may be made for smaller-scale projects. Minimum match of 25% of the total project cost for private projects.  

• Must be located within the designated boundaries of Downtown Lowville for an eligible project. See website for details

*Funding is not specific to flood damage, meant for development of property* 

Private Non-Profit organizations (PNPs) that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans for damages. 

Applications are due:

1. For Physical Damages: October 28, 2024
2. For Economic Injury:  May 29, 2025

• Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.  
• PNP organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  The interest rate is 3.25%, with terms up to 30 years. 
• Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements might include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by any disaster. 

Private Non-Profits may start their application here: Disaster Declaration Search  

See the Disaster Declaration Here: NY 20593 Disaster Declaration 

See the Fact Sheet Here: Generic Fact Sheet 

Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance for individuals and businesses 

As of August 26, 2024, this declaration is still PENDING, and loans are not yet available. 

• In partnership with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Lewis County has submitted reports of damage across the county for consideration to obtain Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Loans for both businesses AND private individuals. 

• You may read more about the Disaster Loan program HERE.  

• In the event that Small Business Administration Disaster assistance IS made available, Lewis County will update the website with additional details, as well as providing updates via the Lewis County Facebook Page.  

• Businesses: After an SBA Disaster Declaration, the SBA offers low interest loans of up to $2 million to qualified businesses or most private nonprofit organizations to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance, with a maturity of up to 30 years.  

• Homeowners: After an SBA Disaster Declaration, the SBA offers homeowners low interest, fixed rate loans of up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence with a maturity of up to 30 years.  

• Homeowners and renters: After an SBA Disaster Declaration, the SBA offers BOTH renters and homeowners low interest loans of up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property with a maturity of up to 30 years. This may be used to replace belongings — such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances — damaged or destroyed in a disaster. 

• Severe Weather Events Occur (July 10-16^th, 2024)  
• Governor Requests Federal Emergency Declaration in response to damages (July 20, 2024)  
• FEMA representatives conduct preliminary damage assessment and advise next steps
• Major Disaster Declaration – Opens additional funding to supplement Local and State response to restore public infrastructure and implement hazard mitigation measures. (August 29^th, 2024)

See the press release from President Biden here: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves New York Disaster Declaration

See the press release from Governor Hochul here: Governor Hochul Secures Major Disaster Declaration for Devastation Caused by the Remnants of Hurricane Beryl on July 10 & 11

This tab will be updated as additional information on funding becomes available.

Lewis County is investigating possible flood mitigation funding opportunities to mediate future flooding risk throughout the county, including NYS Environmental Bond Act Funding. We welcome any municipal leaders or community members with projects in mind to reach out to Grant Coordinator Grace Metzler at gracemetzler@lewiscounty.ny.gov with potential project ideas.  

Lewis County continues to partner with our municipalities and stakeholders who have been impacted by the recent flooding or have concerns about future flooding risk. We welcome community participation and input. You may find our legislative board meeting schedule, board minutes, and other details here:

Board of Legislators

You may also find information on your village or town board meetings via their websites or by contacting them directly.

See below for notes from the meeting which occurred on August 22, 2024 at 10 am to discuss the impacts of the flooding on July 10^th in the Village and Town of Lowville